Department of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Chakdara 18800, Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Chemosphere. 2013 May;91(7):869-81. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.01.075. Epub 2013 Mar 7.
The mobilization of heavy metals by man through extraction from ores and processing for different applications has led to the release of these elements into the environment. Since heavy metals are nonbiodegradable, they accumulate in the environment and subsequently contaminate the food chain. This contamination poses a risk to environmental and human health. Some heavy metals are carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and endocrine disruptors while others cause neurological and behavioral changes especially in children. Thus remediation of heavy metal pollution deserves due attention. Different physical and chemical methods used for this purpose suffer from serious limitations like high cost, intensive labor, alteration of soil properties and disturbance of soil native microflora. In contrast, phytoremediation is a better solution to the problem. Phytoremediation is the use of plants and associated soil microbes to reduce the concentrations or toxic effects of contaminants in the environments. It is a relatively recent technology and is perceived as cost-effective, efficient, novel, eco-friendly, and solar-driven technology with good public acceptance. Phytoremediation is an area of active current research. New efficient metal hyperaccumulators are being explored for applications in phytoremediation and phytomining. Molecular tools are being used to better understand the mechanisms of metal uptake, translocation, sequestration and tolerance in plants. This review article comprehensively discusses the background, concepts and future trends in phytoremediation of heavy metals.
人类通过从矿石中提取和加工不同应用来调动重金属，导致这些元素释放到环境中。由于重金属是不可生物降解的，它们在环境中积累，随后污染食物链。这种污染对环境和人类健康构成了风险。一些重金属是致癌、致突变、致畸和内分泌干扰物，而另一些则会导致神经系统和行为改变，尤其是在儿童中。因此，重金属污染的修复值得关注。为此目的而使用的不同物理和化学方法存在严重的局限性，例如成本高、劳动强度大、土壤性质改变和土壤原生微生物区系受到干扰。相比之下，植物修复是解决这个问题的更好方法。植物修复是利用植物和相关土壤微生物来降低环境中污染物的浓度或毒性效应。它是一种相对较新的技术，被认为是具有成本效益、高效、新颖、环保和太阳能驱动的技术，具有良好的公众接受度。植物修复是当前积极研究的一个领域。正在探索新的高效金属超积累器，以应用于植物修复和植物采矿。分子工具被用于更好地理解植物中金属吸收、转运、螯合和耐受的机制。本文全面讨论了重金属植物修复的背景、概念和未来趋势。
